Office trailer



May 4, 1954 A. v. WILLIAMS 2,677,571

OFFICE TRAILER Filed Feb. 19, 1952 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR. A. V. WILLIAMS ATTORNEY A. V. WILLIAMS May 4, 1954. 7

OFFICE TRAILER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 FIG. 2

FIG

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Mum 4 Patentecl May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES EZTNT OFFICE OFFICE TRAILER Albert Vaughn Williams, Baltimore, .Md.

Application February 19, 1952, Serial No. 272,365

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to vehiclesand more particularly to a trailer specifically designed to provide a portable office which may be located where ever such facilities are :desired.

The invention further contemplates the incorporation of specific office equipment in a vehicle of the trailer type and. in which such office equipment becomes an integral .part of such vehicle and materially contributes to the structural strength thereof.

Heretofore trailers :of the type contemplated by this invention have been constructed by providing a chassis and merely assembly thereon a shell to provide the necessary enclosure without the provision of any cross bracing or any other means to provide material structural strength. Consequently, after relatively short usage, particularly over rough roads, these trailers have requiredmajoroverhauls with the-consequent high cost of maintenance which this :in-

vention specifically avoids. Furthermore where these prior art trailers have been utilized to provide specialized vehicles such as might be utilized for oflice equipment it has "been customary to merely place therein .desks, drafting tables, file cabinets and other equipment which might be needed for the particular job at hand without any consideration whatsoever for the load distribution or for the fact that the structural strength characteristics of the trailer were not sufficient to take care .of such equipment. Furthermore, there was .no attempt whatsoever to tie in this equipment with thezstructural features of the trailer in order to provide additional strength and contribute to the useable life 'of such trailer thereby reducing'maintenance costs.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a vehicle of the trailer type in which offlee equipment such :as desks or the like is installed therein as a permanent partof the trailer structure and in which such equipment materially contributes to the structural :strength .of the trailer.

A further object .of the invention is the provision of a vehicle of the trailer type which the usual heating and-sanitary facilities are provided and in which additional ioffice facilities such as desks, .drawingfhoards and the like :are installed and further i111 which-a dividing :partition is specifically utilized :to provide additional I structural strength for the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle .of the trailer typein which ofiice equipment such :as :desks and the like may be installed and in which such equipment .is integral-ly united with the trailer structure without necessitating major redesign or changes in such structure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle of the trailer type in which a conventional partition normally installed in such vehicles is slightly modified to provide materially increased strength to the trailer structure.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken :in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of .a trailer constructed in accordance with this invention and with parts brokenaway to :show the internal arrangement and structure of the vehicle;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away to show the internal arrangementof certain of :the features of the vehicle;

Fig. 3, a transverse sectional View showing the manner of integrally uniting certain of the furniture in the vehicle with the structure thereof in order to provide additional strength;

Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view showing the manner-of utilizing .a'dividing partition to impart additional strength to the structure of the vehicle; and

Fig. 5, a perspective view showing the chassis on which the trailer of this invention is constructed.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown in Fig. '5 'a chassis it upon which the trailer of this invention may be constructed. Chassis Hi comprises a plurality-of substantially parallel longitudinally extending beams l I which are joined together into a substantially integral framework by cross members I 2. The outer longitudinally extending beams -ll may be bent inwardly-substantially centrally thereof to provide arr-opening for receiving ground-engaging wheels i3. vvhcels It may be journalled upon transverselyeXtend-ing I-beamsorother suitable structural members it which are connected with the remainder of the "chassis to provide suflieient strength to support theentire weight of the vehicle. At the forward. endof the chassis it there may be provided a frame it which may be of A shape or any other design or configuration and the forward end. 16 thereof may be provided with the usual trailer hitch to permit coupling the trailer to the towing vehicle.

The longitudinal chassisfrarne members vl I may well be of channel cross section and the cross frame members i2 may be provided with apertures ll adjacent the outer ends thereof for receivingsuitable fastoning means to secure the body of the vehicle thereto.

The entire body of the vehicle is provided by an outer skin [8 of sheet metal or other suitable material and an inner skin 20 spaced therefrom between which may be placed sound and heat insulating material H3. The plates or sheets forming the floor portion 2|, the side portions 22 and the roof portion 23 may be united together by welding, riveting or the like to provide a substantially unitary structure and this entire assembly may be prefabricated and installed on the chassis It as a unit. The side wall portions 22 and the end wall portions 24 may be provided with suitable windows 25 certain of which may be opened to provide sufficient light and ventilation for the interior of the vehicle.

A door 26 may be provided in one of the side Walls 22 and in order to provide additional illumination a window 2'! may also be incorporated in the door. If desired additional access means in the form of a door 23 may also be incorporated in one or" the side walls 22 but such additional door is not necessary to this invention.

The interior of the trailer of this invention may be provided with several of the usual facilities and conveniences found therein such as a heating stove 29 which may be provided with a vent 30 extending through the roof 23 of the vehicle to the atmosphere, this vent 38 being provided with a jacket SI and air outlets 32 adjacent the upper end thereof to dissipate heated air to the interior of the vehicle. Stove 29 may also be provided with air outlet louvers 33 for dissipating addi tional heated air to the interior of the vehicle and there may also be provided a conduit 3% connected to the stove 29 for conducting heated air to another part of the vehicle which may be partitioned therefrom. Also a seat 35 may be provided having cushions 36 thereon and a closet for enclosure 31 for receiving garments or for other storage purposes may be provided and likewise another closet or enclosure 33 may be provided in another part of the vehicle.

A partition 39 may be provided to divide the vehicle into two compartments 4!] and ll and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 partition 39 may well comprise spaced panels 52 and :33 supported by a generally rectangular frame M. Frame 4 as shown in Fig. 4 is provided at the corners thereof with gusset plates 45 which are secured to upper cross member 41 and side members 45 by screw threaded fastening means, rivets or the like d8, frame id also being provided with gusset plates 39 for securing the frame and panels 12 and E3 to the floor 2! and the cross chassis members 57. Gusset plates 49 may be secured to the side frame members 45 and the floor 25 and cross frame members I! by screw threaded fastening means, rivets or the like 50. It will thus be seen that frame 44 together with panels 32 and 43 constitute a cross bracing structure which materially contributes to the strength of the framework of the vehicle and prevents weaving and consequent structural failures in the body of the vehicle. In order to permit convenient passage to and from the compartments 40 and ll a sliding door 55 may be provided in the partition 39, this door i being conveniently operated by handles 52. Since partition 39 divides the vehicle into two compartments 4!) and 4| the hot air conduit 34 is extended through this partition and an outlet louver 53 is provided therein in order to heat the compartment 40.

The compartment 4| being the larger of the two compartments may include a drafting table 54 provided with the usual drawers 55 for receiving drafting equipment and the like and on the opposite side of the vehicle there may be provided a rack 56 for receiving completed drawings 01' blue prints which it may be necessary to refer to at frequent intervals.

Since the vehicle of this invention is primarily designed to provide portable omce space which may be moved from place to place as such facilities are required, it is an important part of the invention that desks are supplied in each compartment 40 and 41 of the vehicle which, if necessary, can be separated by the partition 39 and door 5i to provide at least two private office spaces. These desks 51 and 58 may be located in each end of the vehicle and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 may comprise a relatively unimpeded top portion 59 having a knee hole space 60 therebeneath and may also be provided with suitable drawers SI for receiving papers or other desired paraphernalia. The desks 5i. and 58 are constructed as integral units and secured to the studs 62 supporting the side walls 22 of the vehicle by angle irons or other suitable structural members 63. These angle irons may be secured to the desk tops and to the studs 62 by rivets, screw threaded fastening means or the like 64 and also the desks are secured to the central longitudinal chassis members i I by angle irons or the like 65. These angle irons may be secured to the desks and to the chassis frame members II by rivets, screw threaded fastening members or the like 66.

Desks 51 and 58 thus become substantially integral parts of the vehicle and materially contribute to the structural strength thereof which prevents bending or weaving of the parts of the vehicle and thus material prevents failure of these parts and consequent high maintenance costs.

It Will thus be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a vehicle of the trailer type in which particular equipment such as that needed for a portable ofiice is installed and in which such equipment becomes an integral part of the vehicle and materially contributes to the structural rigidity and strength thereof. This installation has been accomplished without in any way sacrificing convenience or ease in manufacture and in addition the conven tional partition normally supplied in such vehicles has been modified to provide additional structural rigidity to the vehicle. The installation of the equipment contemplated by this invention may be made without in any way increasing the difl'iculties or cost of manufacture and consequently a vehicle particularly adapted for the needs presented by a portable ofiice is solved by this invention and at the same time a vehicle of the trailer type of superior and long wearing quality is provided.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A trailer vehicle body comprising stringers extending substantially the length thereof, means for mounting wheels from said stringers intermediate the ends of the stringers and the body for supporting said trailer body, upright studding extending from stringers defining te outside walls of the trailer, material rigid in the plane of the sheet material fixed to studding to form rigid walls for closing the and maintaining; the spacing of the stud: reinforcing the walls against vertical healing, a rigid roof supported upon iding and fixedly connected thereto providing an integral structure with said stringers, an unstai line; rigid partition extending across said vehicle adjacent wheels and intermediate the ends of the vehiole and fixedly connected to said stringers, side walls, and roof for suppo' ing the roof and rigidifying the body, s partition having: ssageway therethrough substantially less v n height than said pa ion, a one-piece top of a width suincient to accommodate a seated person, mounted at each end of the vehicle extending completely across said vehicle and. to the adjacent end of the vehicle and secured to the studding of the side walls and providing a knee hole below each of said desk tops, said partition and desk tops serving to rigidify said body where by the total structural weight may he kept to a minimum.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 114,385 Wells Apr. 18, 1939 302,844 Hoffman July 29, 188% 1,519,093 Weymann Dec. 9, 1924 1,910,397 Lewis May 23, 1933 2,235,662 Arehart Mar. 18, 1941 2,239,089 Fageol Apr. 22, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 159,728 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1921 OTHER REFERENCES Detailed Super-Harbor Construction App1ications, publication by Harbor Plywood Corporation. Received January 23, 1945, page 10. 

